The Bay Area has an abundance of coffee shops, from large chains to tiny, locally-owned cafés. Philz Coffee of San Francisco, CA, has expanded out to several different cities, but it started in a grocery store on 24th and Folsom. Its local roots and unique idea about coffee give Philz a story unlike any other coffee shops, making it one of the more special coffee places in the city.

The Founder

For more than 25 years, Phil Jaber was a grocer. He’d always had a passion for coffee, however, and he started selling personalized blends to his customers — a beginning that eventually evolved into coffee shops all over the Bay Area.

Phil studied coffee for years, not just experimenting with different beans but also exploring how other shops served it. Eventually, in 2003, he turned his grocery store into a coffee shop, where he built a sense of community with both his customers and his employees. He believes that coffee is an art and also that it’s good for the soul. At Philz, coffee is a treat that people savor and bond over, a flavorful drink that creates connections and encourages conversation.

The Coffee

Philz’ founder spent a great deal of time perfecting his coffee blends, and it shows. It took Phil seven years to perfect Tesora, the shop’s signature blend. According to him, the coffee is made of beans from five different countries and required quite a bit of experimentation to get just right. He named it ‘treasure’ in Italian.

Unlike other coffee shops, Philz doesn’t make espresso. The beans are carefully sourced and all roasted at its plant in Oakland, and each cup is hand-poured individually as it’s ordered. The coffee is made to exact specifications, using water that’s not quite boiling, and then personalized for each customer. When someone picks up a freshly brewed cup, the barista inevitably asks if the coffee is good or if there’s anything that needs adjusting.

The Community

Coffee, for Phil and his son Jacob, helps foster community. This idea was obvious in the original coffee shop, which featured overstuffed chairs and the occasional plant. The place was meant to feel inviting, and although the shops have evolved in order to fit their individual neighborhoods, that sense of warmth and welcome is still present. Customers are encouraged to ask questions about the coffee and to hold conversations over their cups, whether with the staff or with one another.